Chapter 37 They even know such private matters

Lu Yuan's cold gaze swept over everyone present. "Did you understand? Is there anyone else who wants to plead for the assassin suspect?"

No one was a fool, so they all remained silent.

Although the assassin has been captured, the mastermind behind it has yet to come to light.

Who dares to be the first to speak out at this time?

Even the wife of the Earl of Zhongqin had a pale face, opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing.

No matter how much she doted on this son, she wouldn't dare gamble with the entire Earl of Loyalty's mansion.

The Third Prince was already under the Emperor's suspicion because of the assassin incident. If the Marquis of Zhongqin's mansion were to be involved again, the Third Prince's situation would certainly become even more difficult.

Yan Wenkang was carried out of the side room by two Imperial Guards.

Silence fell over the scene.

At this moment, only Jiang Yunqian couldn't help but speak up: "But since my sister has been drugged, does that mean that she has already been... If that's the case, why not take my sister away with her as well?"

Lu Yuan glanced at Jiang Yunqian with some surprise. "Miss Jiang is right. As a witness, Miss Jiang naturally has to go to the Imperial Prison."

"Yes," Jiang Zhi said calmly.

When she handed the earrings to Lu Yuan, she knew she couldn't escape this fate, so she wasn't surprised.

Jiang Yunqian was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Before she could gloat for long, she heard Lu Yuan say, "It seems that Miss Jiang is also in the know. Let's go together."

Jiang Yunqian's eyes widened in surprise.

What? Send her to the imperial prison?

That's a place where prisoners are detained and interrogated. How could she, an unmarried young lady from a wealthy family, go to such a place?

"Lord Lu, I don't think this is necessary," Jiang Zhengting pleaded.

The fact that both of Jiang's daughters were taken to the imperial prison is a huge disgrace to the Jiang family.

“It’s just a question, Lord Jiang, there’s no need to worry,” Lu Yuan’s thin lips curled up. “I have to thank Miss Jiang for reminding me.”

“Oh, by the way,” his cold face was now as warm as a spring breeze, “take the maid who handled the honey wine with her as well. Torture her severely, and we’ll surely find out who ordered her. I’m helping Lord Jiang purge the traitors from within, so Lord Jiang doesn’t need to thank me too much.”

Wang Yuru's face turned deathly pale!

How could this be? Although that maid was his confidante, what kind of place was the Imperial Prison? Those Imperial Guards would never give up until they found out something.

No matter what excuses she made, Lu Yuan didn't give her any face. With a wave of his hand, two more Imperial Guards appeared. After Jiang Zhi identified the maid who gave her the honey wine, they, along with Jiang Yunqian, Jiang Zhi, and Yan Wenkang, took her away from the Jiang residence.

Wang Yuru's legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground, but fortunately, she was supported by Madam Li beside her.

＊

After leaving the Jiang residence, Jiang Zhi was separated and taken to a carriage.

The Imperial Guards responsible for guarding her were very polite to her, saying, "Miss Jiang, please let me know if you would like some tea or snacks; they are all prepared in the carriage."

Jiang Zhi was very puzzled.

Even if she is familiar with Lu Yuan, she is still a suspect in the end, so why is he so accommodating to her every request?

“Hehe, Miss Jiang is no ordinary person,” the Imperial Guard scratched the back of his head. “There’s no one else in the entire capital who dares to slap our boss twice and escape unscathed.”

Knowing even such private matters, this person must be Lu Yuan's confidant.

She couldn't help but laugh. "That's because your parents are magnanimous and don't hold it against me."

“My eldest son doesn’t treat everyone like this. You must be special to him,” the guard said. “My name is Yu Jun. Miss Jiang, please feel free to ask me anything in the future.”

Jiang Zhi nodded, "Then I thank Lord Yu in advance."

The two quickly arrived at the Northern Garrison Command during their conversation. The gray-blue buildings resembled a lurking giant beast, inspiring awe. The three vermilion gates were tightly closed, and the gates were heavily guarded.

Yu Jun helped Jiang Zhi down from the carriage and ushered her inside. After passing through several doors, they entered the innermost room. Yu Jun stopped and stood respectfully at the doorway. "Miss Jiang, please."

Jiang Zhi immediately became wary, "What's inside..."

“Your esteemed guest has been waiting for you for a long time,” Yu Jun reassured her. “You don’t need to worry, he just wants to ask you a few questions.”

Since we're here, let's make the best of it.

Jiang Zhi pushed the door open with suspicion. The room was dimly lit, and she could only vaguely see someone sitting at the head of the table.

The door behind him closed silently.

Jiang Zhi felt a sudden surge of nervousness and was about to ask a question when the person sitting on the seat suddenly spoke up.

"You must be Jiang Zhi, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family?"

Although she hadn't seen the other person's face clearly yet, Jiang Zhi froze on the spot upon hearing that all-too-familiar voice. An indescribable chill shot up her spine to the top of her head, as if she had been punched hard in the head, leaving her momentarily unable to think.

How could it be Crown Prince Xiao Xuanyou?

Why is he here? And why is he waiting for her here?

In her previous life, at this time, she didn't know Xiao Xuanyou at all and had never met him.

Is it possible that everything has changed drastically now because she was reborn and changed the course of her tragedy?

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you scared?" The voice of the person at the head of the table was like spring water that had been soaked in warm jade, clear and cool with a deep, resonant tone.

Jiang Zhi suppressed her shock and tried her best to appear normal, feigning ignorance as she asked him, "May I ask who you are?"

Xiao Xuanyou did not answer. He stood up and walked to her. His bright yellow prince's robes highlighted his noble status. The pearl on his jade crown gleamed coldly in the shadows, revealing an extremely familiar and handsome face.

Jiang Zhi's face showed surprise, then she took a step back and knelt down in a deep bow, "Your subject Jiang Zhi greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me?"

This was the first time Xiao Xuanyou had seen the real Jiang Zhi since he had that extraordinary dream.

Even though it was their first meeting, he didn't feel any awkwardness at all, as if they had known each other for a long time.

But what is happening now has deviated from the original trajectory of the dream, forcing him to re-examine whether the dream does not mean anything.

The girl opposite him looked respectful yet distant, as if nothing about his identity could stir her emotions.

Xiao Xuanyou withdrew his outstretched hand that was about to help her up. "Get up, no need for formalities. I summoned you today because Lu Yuan said you found some evidence of the mastermind behind the assassins, so I wanted to ask you what reward you would like?"

Jiang Zhi was puzzled.

Is that all? Then why did you meet her in the imperial prison?

"It is my duty to share the burdens of the court. I dare not take credit for it, much less ask for any reward." She bowed her head humbly.

Xiao Xuanyou smiled and said, "There's no need to refuse. Since you won't say, I've thought of something for you. I'll appoint you as the princess's study companion, and you can come and go from the palace often in the future. What do you think?"